Called on a rules infraction...

[bjorgensen]

but turns out I was correct

The other day I push my ball into a lateral water hazard that has six foot tall weeds just inside the line. I find my ball and choose to drop back along the line that the hole and point of entry makes so I can clear the weeds (hole doglegs aroung the hazrd) for my approach. Leaves me 175 yards and a chance to save par.

So I drop and I hear " NOOOO, TWO CLUB LENGTHS!!!!" yelled across the fairway. I yell "No, I'm dropping back" He says no "I'll bet you $100 you can't do that" and starts getting all agressive. I'm in the middle of a skins game for a few bucks no big deal but I don't want to be lossing no $100 even though I was sure I was correct. By this time he's all up in my space and I say that I'm dropping here, just count me out of the hole. I was like 4 over after 14 and didn't want to screw up my round. He starts getting out the rulebook saying I have to drop within 2 clublengths of the lateral hazard thus hitting through weeds or playing around them. He points out the passage about two club lengths (convieniently leaving out the part that its an ADDITIONAL option when dropping from a lateral hazard).
He goes on to explain red vs yellow stakes and all around treating me like a moron that I could be so stupid not to know these things. The other guy in the threesome comes over and agrees with him.

Oh well, I assume that I was wrong, play his way and triple the hole because I was thinking about all the times I played incorrectly!

So I'm thinking about it later that night and I was of course correct. Now I'm upset about the way I was treated but also at myself for not standing up for what I new was correct.

Anyway, I play with this guy once a week or so. How would you handle it the next time we play? I really was upset but not really sure why it bothered me so much. Maybe I can still get the $100... LOL.

[BParis]

Print out the section from the Rules and hand it to him before your next round then tell him he can try and win back the $100 he owes you. Step back and watch the fireworks...

[jwfgolfpro]

Rule 26. Water Hazards (Including Lateral Water Hazards)
Definitions

All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.
26-1. Relief for Ball in Water Hazard

It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward a water hazard is in the hazard. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the hazard. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.

If a ball is in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in a water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke:

a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or

b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or

c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.

When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball or substitute a ball.

(Prohibited actions when ball is in hazard - see Rule 13-4.)
(Ball moving in water in a water hazard - see Rule 14-6.)


JWF

[Mainlinegolfer]

Was there controversy over whether it was a lateral hazard? What color were the stakes?

But, if you didn't drop on the opposite margin of a lateral water hazard under "c. additional options", it wouldn't seem to matter since you elected to drop under option "b".

[OpusX20]

I would email him the link to the rule from the USGA (26-1b). Let him digest it before you see him next.

[url="http://www.usga.org/bookrule.aspx?id=14304#26-1"]http://www.usga.org/bookrule.aspx?id=14304#26-1[/url]

[BParis]

Doesn't matter if it was a [i]Water Hazard[/i] (yellow stakes) or a [i]Lateral Water Hazard[/i] (red stakes) as far as dropping back along the line of entry to hole, you can do it in either situation. The OP already said it was a [i]Lateral Water Hazard[/i]. The issue is the guy(s) he was playing against didn't know all the options available under the Rules.



EDIT: see post #11 below... I'm obviously color challenged!

[BParis]

[quote name='bjorgensen' post='1933853' date='Sep 4 2009, 02:21 PM']Anyway, I play with this guy once a week or so. How would you handle it the next time we play? I really was upset but not really sure why it bothered me so much. Maybe I can still get the $100... LOL.[/quote]


Guys, you are missing what the OP is asking. He knows what the Rule is, he wants to know how you would deal with the guy the next time he plays with him? How should he address the confrontation about the drop, if at all?

[manbearpig]

If it's someone you play with on a regular basis you should have some slack here.

Print out the rules, highlight the section and with a smirk and a snarky voice while standing on the first tee waiting to hit tell him: "You should refresh yourself with the rules of golf before we tee off today." the giggle. Now leave it alone.

Let him stew for the round, I assume this will throw his game off. When you are collecting your skin money after the round make sure you throw in a, with a smirk again "You gonna throw in that hundred from last weeks bet too?" comment.

You may not being playing together the following week but he'll get over it eventually.

[atlanta golfer]

It definitely is tough, when someone confronts you, and you are almost sure they are wrong. I was in a tournament a month ago, and I went to quickly replay a short chip to the pin, after everyone had holed out. I was told I would be penalized if I did that. I was 99% sure he was wrong, but I stopped, not wanting a controversy over a little practice chip. The next hole, I showed him in my rule book that you can putt or chip around the green or on the next tee, after the hole is completed, without penalty, in both stroke and match play. Even though he could see it in writing, he still did not believe it. Some people are very hard to convince.

[Newby]

[quote name='lebanontngolfer' post='1933894' date='Sep 4 2009, 08:38 PM']Doesn't matter if it was a [i]Water Hazard[/i] ([color="#ffa500"]red stakes[/color]) or a [i]Lateral Water Hazard[/i] ([color="#ff0000"]yellow stakes[/color]) as far as dropping back along the line of entry to hole, you can do it in either situation. The OP already said it was a [i]Lateral Water Hazard[/i]. The issue is the guy(s) he was playing against didn't know all the options available under the Rules.[/quote]

Are you sure ?

[BParis]

[quote name='Newby' post='1934092' date='Sep 4 2009, 04:48 PM'][quote name='lebanontngolfer' post='1933894' date='Sep 4 2009, 08:38 PM']Doesn't matter if it was a [i]Water Hazard[/i] ([color="#ffa500"]red stakes[/color]) or a [i]Lateral Water Hazard[/i] ([color="#ff0000"]yellow stakes[/color]) as far as dropping back along the line of entry to hole, you can do it in either situation. The OP already said it was a [i]Lateral Water Hazard[/i]. The issue is the guy(s) he was playing against didn't know all the options available under the Rules.[/quote]

Are you sure ?
[/quote]


DAAAMMMNNN... [i]"I'm such a stupid!"[/i]

[Sawgrass]

I'm sorry, but this thread is filled with bad advice. What you should do is stay silent. Next time you play, intentionally hit into a water hazard on the first possible occasion and take the controvercial drop extended from the line between the pin and the point of entry. Let the guy challenge you again, and act like it never happened the fist time. Bet him $1,000 you're right. Give me 10%. Thank you very much.

[OpusX20]

[quote name='Sawgrass' post='1935928' date='Sep 5 2009, 11:22 PM']I'm sorry, but this thread is filled with bad advice. What you should do is stay silent. Next time you play, intentionally hit into a water hazard on the first possible occasion and take the controvercial drop extended from the line between the pin and the point of entry. Let the guy challenge you again, and act like it never happened the fist time. Bet him $1,000 you're right. Give me 10%. Thank you very much.[/quote]

I withdraw my suggestion to educate your partner via emailing him the ruling. Sawgrass has a much better idea. Go with that.

[jcp907]

I am liking two pieces of advice. Lebanontngolfer's and Sawgrass's.

If it were me, I would bring the rules with me, and on the first tee let him know that he needs to pay up the 100 at the end of the round and remind him about it periodically. I would be insistent since he was so confrontational about it.